Proofreading for small errors is not easy. Your mind gets tied up in the story and may just jump right over small errors, especially if you have read the story before. Here’s my best advice:
- Read the story backwards, paragraph by paragraph. This removes you from the flow of the story, and you’re more likely to notice the errors.
- In Microsoft Word or other software that has autocorrect marks, shrink the page size down so that you’ve got at least nine micro pages showing at once on your screen. The autocorrect marks don’t shrink, and you’ll be able to easily zero in on spots that the software identifies as problems.
- Ask people who haven’t read it yet to read it, especially people who are grammar-sensitive.
Robin E. Mason says
I’ve also heard it suggested you read out loud, which i love ’cause i’m also an actress. 😉